Femtocell Base Station

Abstract

In one aspect, there is provided method. The method may include determining, at a base station, identity information for a mobile station, the base station configured to determine the identity information when the mobile station is in a proximate contact with the base station; and providing the identity information to a message generator. Related systems, articles, and methods are also described.

1 . A method comprising:
 determining, at a base station, identity information for a mobile station, the base station configured to determine the identity information when the mobile station is in a proximate contact with the base station; and   providing the identity information to a message generator.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identity information includes
 one or more of the following: an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the mobile station; a media access control address of the mobile station; a phone number of the mobile station; an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI); and an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI).   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base station is a femtocell base station. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proximate contact comprises a physical contact between the base station and the mobile station. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proximate contact comprises substantially close contact between the base station and the mobile station. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 sending, by a message generator, a message generated based on the proximate contact between the mobile station and the base station.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising:
 generating the message as a short message service message.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising:
 including, in the message, information targeted to at least one of a product and a service in an area associated with an antenna of the base station.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving an indication of the proximate contact from one of a plurality of antennas coupled to the base station.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 configuring, at the base station, at least one of a power and an antenna to limit proximate contact to less than about 6 inches.   
   
   
       11 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory, wherein the processor and the memory are configured to perform a method comprising:   determining, at a base station, identity information for a mobile station, the base station configured to determine the identity information when the mobile station is in a proximate contact with the base station; and   providing the identity information to a message generator.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the identity information includes
 one or more of the following: an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the mobile station; a media access control address of the mobile station; a phone number of the mobile station; an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI); and an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI).   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the base station is a femtocell base station. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the proximate contact comprises a physical contact between the base station and the mobile station. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the proximate contact comprises substantially close contact between the base station and the mobile station. 
   
   
       16 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions to configure a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
 determining, at a base station, identity information for a mobile station, the base station configured to determine the identity information when the mobile station is in a proximate contact with the base station; and   providing the identity information to a message generator.   
   
   
       17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the identity information includes
 one or more of the following: an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the mobile station; a media access control address of the mobile station; a phone number of the mobile station; an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI); and an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI).   
   
   
       18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the base station is a femtocell base station. 
   
   
       19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the proximate contact comprises a physical contact between the base station and the mobile station. 
   
   
       20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the proximate contact comprises substantially close contact between the base station and the mobile station.